Brooder



June 22, 1937. J, BLA K 2,084,832

BROODER Filed April 2, 1936 lmmm for I g. 5. Z

Attorne Patented June 22, 1937 UNE'E'ED STATES PATENT ()FFIQE Application April 2,

1 Claim.

The invention relates to brooders employed in the raising of chickens following incubation.

The invention has for its object to produce a serviceable and practical brooder that is inexpensive to manufacture, and one that is supplied with special provisions by which it may be conveniently maintained in a clean condition.

A further object is to produce a brooder incorporating a heated stand or base with a surmounting cavernous member preferably simulative of a natural brooding hen, under which chickens may nestle and be kept warm.

The invention comprehends a shallow stand or base having a fiat top and sloping marginal walls. The top is heated by a submounted heating unit adapted to furnish moderate heat. Mounted upon the stand is an effigy of a brooding hen having a cavernous interior for accommodation of chicks. A wire screen flooring is interposed between the effigy and the top of the stand in order that excrement may drop through and thus aid in keeping the chicks clean. The efligy and the screen are hinged to the stand at a common point so that they may be swung upwardly clear of its top surface for cleaning purposes.

It is proposed that the hinge connection be so arranged that the efiigy and the screen flooring thereunder may be detachable from the stand, and that suitable means may be supplied to secure the effigy in its normal position.

The accompanying drawing is illustrative of one practical mode of carrying out the invention, however it is understood that the brooder may be subject to such modification as comes within the spirit and scope of the claim hereinafter ap pended.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the brooder.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the hen and the screen fioor elevated and the stand broken away in part to illustrate the securing means for the hen.

Figure 3 is a front view of the brooder.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the brooder depicting the screen flooring in normal position and 45 the hen raised and broken away.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the underside of the stand showing the heating element.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the stand taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In the drawing, the stand is shown as composed of a sheet metal member having a top wall I with downwardly sloping sides 8 perforated as at 9. The stand is preferably rectangular in shape, although other configurations may be re- 1936, Serial No. 72,271

sorted to. The interior of the shallow structure contains a heating unit ID for supplying moderate heat which is transmitted through the top wall 1.

It is evident that various types of conventional heating units could be employed but that chosen as representative consists of an electrical appliance composed of a casing H fitted with lamp sockets l2 for the bulbs l3. The lamps are electrically connected in usual manner to the attachment cord l4 and are preferably laterally disposed with reference to the casing. The lamps form a convenient mode of heating the stand as their number and size can be varied to suit requirements.

The perforations 9 serve to enable the attendant to ascertain whether the lamps of the heating unit are lit.

The hen I5 is mounted upon the stand by the hinge connection 16 at the rear, and the interior is substantially chambered, as at IT, with an open bottom in order to accommodate the chicks. The hen will be constructed of suitable material such as sheet metal and may have an opening l8 forming a hand hole for raising it. In order to secure the hen in its normal position it is proposed that the frontal portion be supplied with latches H! of spring metal fitted in openings 20 in the stand.

The wire screen member 2| is disposed on the stand beneath the hen and provides a reticulate flooring through which excrement may drop so as to aid in keeping the chicks clean and their feet dry. The screen members may be elevated slightly from the top of the stand and is shown as attached by lugs 22 to the hinge connection l6 aforesaid to which the hen is attached by the lugs 23 (see Figure 4). The pintle 24 of the hinge element is preferably made removable with a view to enabling the hen and the screen to be detached from the stand.

It will be manifest that the hinge element permits both the hen and the screen or grating to be swung upwardly clear of the stand.

What I claim is:-

A brooder of the class described consisting of a stand, a member mounted thereupon simulative of a hen and having a chamber extending upwardly from an open bottom, a wire screen member forming an elevated flooring beneath the aforesaid member, a hinge connection attaching the hen member and the screen member to the stand, and latch means for securing the hen member to the stand at a distance from the said hinge connection.

JOSEPHINE BLASCHKE. 

